Ski sharpening tool



1964 A. P. WINBAUER 3,159,951

SKI SHARPENING TOOL Filed April 14. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ay gx m 7%- fitter-nay Deii- 1964 A. P. WINBAUER 3,159,951

SKI SHARPENING TOOL Filed April 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,159,951 ii-Kl SHARPENING TS-GL Alois P. Winhaner,343 Heteheltown Road, Scotia 2, Ni. Filed Apr. 14, 1% der. No. 103,655 2(Ilairns. (El. 51l79) The present invention relates to a machining toolfor irregular surfaces, and more particulmly, to a tool for sharpeningthe edges of skis.

The continued effectiveness and consequent enjoyment of skis is to agreat extent contingent on the provision and maintenance of sharp edgeson the skis. The bottom surface of the ski on each side shouldpreferably terminate in a continuous edge defined by two surfacesintersecting at substantially 90. The provision of sharp edges on skisnot only supplies a very responsive biting edge into the ice and snowwhich makes them a more versatile sports tool but also acts as a safetyfeature resulting from the increased responsiveness of the skis reducingthe hazard in this winter sport. 7

Recognizing the need for maintaining the sharpness of these edges,-manufacturerers of skis have modified the usual wood, plastic, andmetal constructions and also laminated variations thereof by providingrecessed edges on the skis adapted to receive strips which when attachedto a the ski form a flange extending beyond the body of the ski. Becauseof the nature of material used to fabricate the strips, usually hardenedsteel, the ski retains its sharpness for an extended period. I

However, after any substmtial use, the need for sharpening becomesevident. From a consideration of the geometry of the skis, it isapparent that sharpening of the edges is not readily performed. Each skiis usually provided with a camber which is a refinement in ski designmanifested in the edges of the ski having an undulation extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof. The existence of such cambermay be readily ascertained by visual examination and noting the variancein the ski width throughout its length.

In sharpening skis, it is also desirable to extend their useful life aslong as practical by being able to grind the previously described flangea large number of times. This requires sharpening procedures which willpreferably remove no more than a few thousandths of an inch of metalduring each sharpening operation.

At the present time, this preferred practice is not possible because theski edge is not straight but has the previously mentioned camber whichrelegates sharpening to a hand filing or grinding operation and itsquality and consequent usefulness is made dependent on the skillof theindividual performing the sharpening. V g f V g The chief object of thepresent invention'is to provide an improved machining tool for irregularsurfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an proved toolforsharpening skis V A fur her object of the invention is to provide amachining tool adapted to follow long irregular contours. V f Astillfurther. object of the invention is to provide a tool to sharpen theedge of a ski while following the undulating surface defined by itscamber and performing this operation by removing a minimal amount ofmaterial to extend the life of the ski. g

These and other objects of my invention may be more readily perceivedfrom the following description.

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a tool forsharpening the edge of skis comprising cutting means movably mountedwithrespect to guide means which engage the edge of the ski to be sharpenedto regulate the amount'of material removed from the skis The tool mayfurther include means for resiliently urgingthe 3,159,951 Patented Dec..8, 1964 guide means into engagement with the skito follow the contourof the edge.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of. an apparatus for practicing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a'bottom view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in plan illustrating a ski being sharpened by theapparatus shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view of FIGURE 3 looking along line FIGURE 5 is asectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3 taken along the line55;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the bottom portion of a skiillustrating sharpening in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken through the ski in FIGURE 6 a ong theline 66; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional View through the ski in FIG- URE 6 along theline 7-7.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a plan view of an apparatus forpracticing the present invention. The apparatus is a tool comprising aframe 2 which is generally a planar member with an opening 3 thereinhaving a pair of parallel tracks 4 and 5 extending thereacross.

Tracks 4 and 5 are adapted to engage bearing block 6 to permitlongitudinal movement of the bearing block in the frame for a purposemore fully described hereinafter.

Bearing block 6 includes a bearing construction 7 including a shaft 10journalled therein. A grinding wheel which performs the machining,cutting, or sharpening action of the present tool may be mounted on theshaft supported by bearing construction 7. Adjacentthe other end of theshaft journalled by the bearing construction may be mounteda suitablesheave 9. Bearingblock 6 may also include a protuberance 11 having asuitable internal thread adapted to engage lead screw 12. which may berotatably supported in the frame in a manner wherein rotation of thelead screw results in movement of bearing block 6 and consequentlinearmovement of the grinding wheel 8'to another position, for example,asshown by dotted position 8. Such positioning of the grinding wheelpermits adjustment of the grinding surface thereof to regulate. theamount of material removed along the ski edge during a sharpeningoperation. A knob 13 mounted on lead screw 12 may be provided tofacilitate the movement of the grinding Wheel and, if desired, leadscrew 12 may be selected in a manner'wherein each rotation of knob 13removes a known amount of material from the skiedge,

In order to drive the grinding wheel, a drive means such as an electricmotor may be connected to the grinding wheel. In the present embodiment,motor 16 is mounted on frame 2, motor 16 having a sheave output 18.connected by belt 17 to sheave 9 on the bearing block. In this manner,a driving connection is made between the motor and the grinding wheel.Since the bearing block is movably mounted relative to the motor, belt;17 is preferably fabricated of a elastomeric material such as rubber tomaintain the desired driving connection between sheaves 9 and 18. Itwill be appreciated that other 'drive connections may'be'made betweenmotor 16 and grinding 'wheel 8 'within the scope' of the presentinvention, for example, motor 16 may be mounted on bearing block 6.

FIGURE 21s a bottom view of the 'tool shown in FIG- URE 1 andillustrates shaft 10 upon which grinding wheel 8 is mounted. Nut 20 isprovided to threadingly engaging shaft 10' and maintain the grindingwheel thereon. Two aligned pairs of gusset plates 21, 22 and 23 and and22 being shorter than plates 23 and 24 for a purpose to be more fullydescribed hereinafter. Shaft 25 extends from plate 21 to plate 22 androllers 28 and 29 are rotatably mounted on shaft 25.

cylindrical in shape whereas rollers 29 and 31' may have cylindricalportions 331 and 35 and flanged portions 34 and 36. a I

In sharpening a ski, it is desirable to have the edge being sharpenedengage theflanged portions 34 and 36 of rollers 29 and 31 while theflatportions of the ski are engaged by rollers 28 and 30 and thecylindrical portions 33 and 35 of rollers 2:9 and 31. Since, aspreviously noted, the edge of the ski'undulates slightly, it isdesirable to supply means to urge edge of the ski into continued contactwith flanges 34 and 36.

From FIGUREZ it can be seen that flanges 34 and 36 act as guide means todetermine and fix a relationship between the position of the ski edgeand the grinding surface of grinding wheel 8. Biasing means 40 functionsto urge the ski into engagement with flanges 34 and 36 thereby fixingthe position of the ski edge with respect to the movable grinding wheel.

Biasing means 40 may comprise a housing 41 attached to the bottom sideof frame 2, housing 41 having a cavity with support means for a carriermember 42 and spring 43 for resiliently urging carrier member 4-2 towardflanges 34 and 36 of rollers 29 and 31 which engage the edge of the skibeing sharpened. A roller 44 may be mounted Similarly, shaft 26 6X tendsbetween plates 23 and 24- having rollers 30 and 31 journalled on shaft26. Rollers 2S and 34B are generally on carrier member-'42 to engage theother edge of the to permit easy movement of the tool on the ski. Thisfunction may be performed within the spirit of the invention by otherpositioning means such as a'planar surface.

Similarly, flanges 3d and 36 need not necessarily be mounted on rollers31 and 29 to practice this invention. If desired, this guiding functionmay bersupplied by a pair of protuberances associated with frame 2 andadapted to engage the surface to be sharpened at points straddling theimmediate area being sharpened.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a plan view of a ski with the tool comprising thepresent invention engaged in a sharpening operation. From this planview, it can be seen that ski 50 has two edges 51 and 52, edge 51 beingthe edgethat is undergoing the sharpening operation. This view alsoillustrates the camber. of the ski in that edges 51 and 52 bow slightlyinward in the middle part of the ski.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the tool shown during a sharpeningoperation. In this view, supports 54 which attach motor 16 on frame 2are shown. This view also shows the positioning effect of plates 24 and23 which are longer than plates 21 and '22. Frame 2 upon which thegrinding wheel supporting means is mounted becomes angularly disposedwith respect to the upper surface of the ski due to the difference inplate lengths. Furthermore, the grinding wheelaxis is disposed at anacute angle to the direction oftravel of the tool during the sharpeningprocess. .Thepurpose of this particular grinding surface, which isarcuate, grinds a planar surface andthere is an assurance that the-skiedges terminate. in

right angles. This feature also causes even wear on the grinding wheel.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the ski and tool taken through line 55shown in FIGURE 3. In this view rollers 28 and 29 are shown riding onthe flat surface of the ski with flange 34 of roller 29 engaging theedge of metal strip 55 which is being sharpened. Roller 44 ski with aminimum removal of material from the ski edge. This 7 particular featurepermits the ski to be sharpened a great number of times to extend skilife.

In the sharpening operation, the tool is initially mounted on the skiwith the cylindrical surfaces of rollers 28, 29, 30, and 31 engaging theflat portion of the ski. The flanges-of rollers 29 and 31 may be broughtinto contact with the edge of the ski to be sharpened and roller 44 ofbiasing means 40 may be brought into engagement with the opposite edgeof the ski. Knob 13 may then be manipulated to rotate lead screw 12which threadingly engages protuberance 11 of bearing block 6. Bearingblock 6 which rides on tracks 4 and 5 may then be moved toward the Thismovement of the bearing block brings grinding wheel 8 into substantialengagement with the edge of the ski as is shown in FIGURE 6 which is afragmentary plan view of the ski and a portion of grinding wheel 8. UponContact of the wheel with theski, motor 16 may be started. As previouslymentioned, lead screw 12 may be selected in a manner that a knownincrement of movement is made by each rotation of knob 13. For

example, the lead screw may be selected to advance the grinding wheeltwo thousandths of an inch with each revolution. In this case, a twothousandths of an inch metal removal may be desired and the knob isturned one revolution.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the ski in FIGURE 6 showing that strip55 along edge 51 of the ski has a bottom surface 61 and an edge surface62. In a new ski or a newly sharpened ski, these surfaces aresubstantially disposed at right angles and the surfaces meet along aline edge 63. In FIGURE 7, a worn edge is shown in that the meeting edge63 is rounded. With this condition, a skier will note that the skis arenot very responsive and maneuvering is difficult. Consequently, this maybe deemed a safety hazard.

The ski sharpening tool may be mounted on one end of the ski and thetool may be advanced or, if desired, the ski may be advanced so that auniform amount of material is removed from surface 62 of strip 55. Thepassing of grinding edge 60 across the strip 55 is shown in FIGURE 8which is a sectionalview taken across line 7- -7 in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE8, it can be seen that surfaces 61 and 62 terminate in a sharp rightangle edge 64 which will result in the ski being more responsive in use.

The present invention is directed to a tool for generally machining longcontoured surfaces and, more particularly, the edges of skis. The toolincludes cutting means, guide means for engaging the surface to besharpened and for positioning the cutting means with respect to thesurface, and means for urging the guide means into contact with thesurface. In the particular embodiment described,

invention, it will be appreciated that the invention may be otherwiseembodied within th'escope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In a tool for sharpening the edges of skis, the combination of aframe, a bearing block, a pair of tracks associated with said frame andadapted to engage said hearing block for movably supporting the bearingblock on said frame, means for adjusting the position of the bear-' ingblock on said frame, a grinding wheel journalled in said bearing block,motor means connected to said grinding Wheel, a pair of rollers havingflanges being operatively connected to said frame, said flanges beingadapted to engage the edge of the ski being machined, said tracksassociated with said frame being oriented for movement of'the grindingwheel with respect to the rollers adapted to engage the edge of the ski,a third roller movably mounted with respect to said frame and adapted toengage the opposite edge of the ski and spring means for biasing thethird roller into engagement with the opposite edge of References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,988,138 Peck Jan. 15,1935 2,714,789 Peeks Aug. 9, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 3,1958

1. IN A TOOL FOR SHARPENING THE EDGES OF SKIS, THE COMBINATION OF AFRAME, A BEARING BLOCK, A PAIR OF TRACKS AS SOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME ANDADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID BEAR ING BLOCK FOR MOVABLY SUPPORTING THE BEARINGBLOCK ON SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF THE BEARINGBLOCK ON SAID FRAME, A GRINDING WHEEL JOURNALLED IN SAID BEARING BLOCK,MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAAID GRINDING WHEEL, A PAIR OF ROLLERS HAVINGFLANGES BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME, SAID FLANGES BEINGADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF THE SKI BEING MACHINED, SAID TRACKSASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME BEING ORIENTED FOR MOVEMENT OF THE GRINDINGWHEEL WITH RESPECT TO THE ROLLERS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF THE SKI,A THIRD ROLLER MOVABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TOENGAGE THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE SKI AND SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING THETHIRD ROLLER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF THE SKI.